Royal Family portraits through the years
From Queen Victoria to Princess Charlotte.
1913
King George V, Elizabeth II's grandfather, ruled Britain from 1910 (following the death of his father, Edward VII) until his passing in 1936. Here, he's pictured with his wife, Queen Mary, formerly Princess Mary of Teck, at the Robing room of the House of Lords.
1926
King George V and Queen Mary's son, George, Duke of York (the future King George VI) and his wife Elizabeth, Duchess of York, welcomed their first child and future Queen, Princess Elizabeth on April 21, 1926. In this photo, the royal couple looks dotingly at their daughter at her christening, a month after she was born.
1942
Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Princess Elizabeth and King George VI pose for a family portrait at Buckingham Palace. The royal daughters match in gray blazers, pleated skirts and peach button-down shirts.
1947
Elizabeth and Philip share a sweet moment on their wedding day. The couple tied the knot at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. The future Queen's wedding gown included 10,000 seed pearls and a 15-foot train.
1985
The royal couple welcomed Prince William in 1982 and Prince Harry in 1984. Here, Charles, the Prince of Wales, has a silly moment with his two sons at home in Kensington Palace.
2003
Queen Elizabeth II sits in front of her son Prince Charles (second in line for the throne) and Prince William (third in line for the throne) at the 50th anniversary of her coronation. The photo was taken at Clarence House, Charles' official residence.
2010
A month after announcing their engagement in November 2010, Prince William and Kate Middleton released their official engagement portraits, shot by Mario Testino in the historic chamber of Clarence House. The couple wed four months later.
PHOTO: Mario Testino
2016
The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge pose for a photo at Buckingham Palace before the annual evening reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace.
2017
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip pose for portraits celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary. The pictures were taken by British photographer Matt Holyoak in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle in early November.
PHOTO: Matt Holyoak
2017
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for their romantic official engagement photos, shot by Alexi Lubomirski at Frogmore House, Windsor. The pictures were released in December 2017, just a month after the couple announced their engagement. Markle flaunts her ring, which includes a center diamond from Botswana and two smaller ones from Princess Diana's personal collection.
PHOTO: Alexi Lubomirski
1913
King George V, Elizabeth II's grandfather, ruled Britain from 1910 (following the death of his father, Edward VII) until his passing in 1936. Here, he's pictured with his wife, Queen Mary, formerly Princess Mary of Teck, at the Robing room of the House of Lords.
1926
King George V and Queen Mary's son, George, Duke of York (the future King George VI) and his wife Elizabeth, Duchess of York, welcomed their first child and future Queen, Princess Elizabeth on April 21, 1926. In this photo, the royal couple looks dotingly at their daughter at her christening, a month after she was born.
1942
Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Princess Elizabeth and King George VI pose for a family portrait at Buckingham Palace. The royal daughters match in gray blazers, pleated skirts and peach button-down shirts.
1947
Elizabeth and Philip share a sweet moment on their wedding day. The couple tied the knot at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. The future Queen's wedding gown included 10,000 seed pearls and a 15-foot train.
1985
The royal couple welcomed Prince William in 1982 and Prince Harry in 1984. Here, Charles, the Prince of Wales, has a silly moment with his two sons at home in Kensington Palace.
2003
Queen Elizabeth II sits in front of her son Prince Charles (second in line for the throne) and Prince William (third in line for the throne) at the 50th anniversary of her coronation. The photo was taken at Clarence House, Charles' official residence.
2010
A month after announcing their engagement in November 2010, Prince William and Kate Middleton released their official engagement portraits, shot by Mario Testino in the historic chamber of Clarence House. The couple wed four months later.
PHOTO: Mario Testino
2016
The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge pose for a photo at Buckingham Palace before the annual evening reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace.
2017
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip pose for portraits celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary. The pictures were taken by British photographer Matt Holyoak in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle in early November.
PHOTO: Matt Holyoak
2017
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for their romantic official engagement photos, shot by Alexi Lubomirski at Frogmore House, Windsor. The pictures were released in December 2017, just a month after the couple announced their engagement. Markle flaunts her ring, which includes a center diamond from Botswana and two smaller ones from Princess Diana's personal collection.
PHOTO: Alexi Lubomirski
1913
King George V, Elizabeth II's grandfather, ruled Britain from 1910 (following the death of his father, Edward VII) until his passing in 1936. Here, he's pictured with his wife, Queen Mary, formerly Princess Mary of Teck, at the Robing room of the House of Lords.
1926
King George V and Queen Mary's son, George, Duke of York (the future King George VI) and his wife Elizabeth, Duchess of York, welcomed their first child and future Queen, Princess Elizabeth on April 21, 1926. In this photo, the royal couple looks dotingly at their daughter at her christening, a month after she was born.
1942
Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Princess Elizabeth and King George VI pose for a family portrait at Buckingham Palace. The royal daughters match in gray blazers, pleated skirts and peach button-down shirts.
1947
Elizabeth and Philip share a sweet moment on their wedding day. The couple tied the knot at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. The future Queen's wedding gown included 10,000 seed pearls and a 15-foot train.
1985
The royal couple welcomed Prince William in 1982 and Prince Harry in 1984. Here, Charles, the Prince of Wales, has a silly moment with his two sons at home in Kensington Palace.
2003
Queen Elizabeth II sits in front of her son Prince Charles (second in line for the throne) and Prince William (third in line for the throne) at the 50th anniversary of her coronation. The photo was taken at Clarence House, Charles' official residence.
2010
A month after announcing their engagement in November 2010, Prince William and Kate Middleton released their official engagement portraits, shot by Mario Testino in the historic chamber of Clarence House. The couple wed four months later.
PHOTO: Mario Testino
2016
The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge pose for a photo at Buckingham Palace before the annual evening reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace.
2017
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip pose for portraits celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary. The pictures were taken by British photographer Matt Holyoak in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle in early November.
PHOTO: Matt Holyoak
2017
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for their romantic official engagement photos, shot by Alexi Lubomirski at Frogmore House, Windsor. The pictures were released in December 2017, just a month after the couple announced their engagement. Markle flaunts her ring, which includes a center diamond from Botswana and two smaller ones from Princess Diana's personal collection.
PHOTO: Alexi Lubomirski
From Queen Victoria to Princess Charlotte.
Related Content
Royal portraiture is a longstanding tradition that's survived for centuries, but the medium has changed almost as much as the British monarchy has. Here, we highlight some standout images over eight generations of the British royal family, spanning from Queen Victoria's reign (when photography was first introduced), to Queen Elizabeth II's childhood, to Princess Charlotte's early years. From rigidly posed portraits to sweet candids, take a look at these official royal snaps.